It is not obvious? Well, apparently not quite, when you consider how many people are still struggling with this issue!

The first concept you need to understand is that 3D means 3 dimensions and 2D means 2 dimensions. Now before you think I’m stating the obvious, let me continue by saying that 3D and 2D in animation refer to the dimension in which the animation was created. Ahhhh. The plot thickens, huh?

For 2D animation, everything happens on a two-dimensional platform. The images are flat, without depth and offer a single perspective. Objects and characters are generally drawn without the subtle soft shadows that we see in real life, and the colors have few hues. In 3D animation, everything happens on a three-dimensional platform. The images have depth and offer multiple perspectives just like in real life and have soft and subtle shadows cast on the objects and characters within.

In 2D, the characters appear cartoonish and unrealistic. In 3D, the characters can appear cartoonish but realistic at the same time.

Another way to think about this is to think in terms of a painting and a sculpture. 2D is a painting and 3D is a sculpture. 3D introduces “depth perspective”, so we not only see a rectangle (2D) but a CUBE (3D). You can also think of it as the difference between a photograph of a glass of water (2D) and being able to reach out and take the glass of water (3D).

Typically 2D involves “drawing” or movement on, say, a flat surface (sketchpad, etc.) or in the vertical and horizontal planes. 3D involves “modeling”, that is, creating 3-dimensional objects using computer software, residing in an expansive virtual environment, complete with lights, reflections, other objects, shadows, etc.

You could start training comparing a cartoon like Bugs Bunny, Aladdin, Lion King (2D) with “Toy Story 1, 2 and 3,” Finding Nemo “and” Incredibles “(3D). Excellent cartoons, you should take a good one. Out or be branded a Neanderthal forever!